Discovering Jesus

Saint Anne Church - January 1, 1990, 1997, 1999

Gospel - Luke 2:16-21

After the Shepherds came and reported to Mary and Joseph the wonderful things that had happened the night Jesus was born, Luke notes carefully Mary's reaction: "She treasured all these things and reflected upon them in her heart." Very quietly, prayerfully, Mary pondered in her heart the amazing works of God and tried to penetrate their meaning.

She continued to do that all her life, reflecting on Jesus, his life, his ministry, his death and resurrection. And so, little by little, she gained a deeper understanding of who he was and of his mission.

The visit of the Shepherds certainly brought to mind, for example, what the Angel Gabriel said to her earlier about who Jesus was and what his mission was to be.

"Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will be without end." (Lk 1:32-33)

The Angel had also said to Mary, "You shall call him Jesus," a name that means Savior, God saves. And now the shepherds report to Mary what the angel told them: "I bring you good news, tidings of great joy for all the people. This day, in the city of David, a Savior is born, the Messiah, the Lord."

Mary grew in the knowledge of Jesus and of God's plans as the life of Jesus unfolded before her eyes.

She rejoiced as she saw him grow in virtue and wisdom.

Like, any mother, she experienced joys and sorrows. She saw Jesus leave the home one day to start a new life. It began gloriously, as he became popular; performed great miracles; he was an extraordinary preacher and prophet, "No one ever spoke like him!!'

But before long the Jewish leaders, the most respected and influential men in the Jewish community, began to resent this new preacher and criticize him for his unorthodox teachings, and finally there was Calvary... and Easter.

Mary discovered day by day her son Jesus, his great love for people, his sacrificial love, and his glory, as these events unfolded. God had not revealed the future to her in advance. She, like us, had to walk by faith, in the dark. She pondered the action of God day by day. Mary was a meditative woman. She reflected deeply on the meaning of all the things that happened to Jesus and embraced the will of God. FIAT!

Christmas was just a beginning for Mary, as it is for us. We can learn from her how to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and of God's plan for us, as it unfolds. May we learn to reflect, like Mary, on the life of Jesus, and on his presence in our lives, what he is doing in each of our lives.

There are many ways for us to reflect in our hearts on the meaning of Jesus for us, how he is meant to affect our lives and enable us to grow spiritually, like Mary:

1. The Gospels. Read them over and over prayerfully.
2. The Mysteries of Jesus and our Salvation as we celebrate them during the Liturgical Year. Yes, we celebrate the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of Jesus; then, his sending of the Holy Spirit, when the Church came alive and filled with power from on high. Then, the so-called "Ordinary Time" of the Church year, when we read at Mass of the ministry, the teachings, the miracles, etc. of Jesus, so many ways in which he reveals himself to us.
3. Our daily Rosary. The Rosary is a summary of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; The Joyous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. An excellent way for us to imitate Mary every day, as we ponder in our hearts the life and teachings of Jesus. It is not a matter of learning new things, but of gaining a deeper understanding of what we already know, like Mary.
4. Finally, Jesus reveals himself to us, as he did to Mary, in the events of our daily life. If we pay attention, we can see the hand of God guiding us day by day. We shall discover his love guiding us through the joys and sufferings of life, if we are determined to follow him.

And we shall praise him with joy, even in the midst of pain and suffering, even when we don't understand, like Mary who kept all these things, pondering them lovingly in her heart. May we learn from Mary to live in an intimate union with Jesus. If we do so, day by day, this will be truly a Happy Holy New Year for all of us.

Sermons on Mary Index